Friday, May 30, 2008

End Foreign Bases

Thursday  April 17, 2008
7:00 P.M.
Veterans Building, Room 219
401 Van Ness, San Francisco

Join us to HEAR
End Foreign Bases
Protect the people and their lives

Expert witnesses to the cost of US militarism on civilian
communities around the world.

The American Friends Service Committee & Veterans for Peace
& American Legion Post 315 Present

The United States maintains more than 737 publicly recognized
military bases as well as hundreds of secret bases and installations
in 140 countries around the world. With more than 400,000 US
troops "forward deployed" at these bases, they make U.S. foreign
military interventions, wars like the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and even
nuclear war possible.


Andrea Licata (Italy)—editor of an anthology of plans for converting
the long-standing mammoth U.S. airbase in Aviano to peaceful civilian
purposes. Key organizer of the demonstrations that occurred last
December, in which hundreds of thousands of people took to the
streets in Vicenza in protest of the U.S. base expansion. He also
helped create the Sir! No, Sir! Center and GI Rights Hotline in
Aviano.

Sabina Perez—Cultural activist in Guam and in the Bay Area, and one
of the key organizers of Famoksaiyan (a collective of community
workers, educators, and artists dedicated to promoting the cultural-
political sovereignty of Chamorros in Guam and abroad). She has
helped organize Chamorro delegations to testify before the UN.

For more information, call: American Friends Service Committee (415)
565-0201 x 24 or Veterans for Peace SF Bay/ American Legion Post 315,
the Bob Basker Post (415) 255-7331


(Wednesday, April 16- It will be at the San Jose Peace Center 48
South 7th Street , San Jose , Ca 95112. 7:00 pm- Licata only)

(Friday, April 18 – Santa Cruz – Resource Center for Nonviolence -
515 Broadway 7:30 pm- Licata

THE U.S. ROLE IN IRAQ: CAN AN OCCUPIER BECOME A PEACEMAKER?

A talk by Iraqi political analyst and blogger Raed Jarrar, with a response from Jon Osorio, director of Center for Hawaiian Studies

Friday * May 23 * 7pm * University of Hawai'i Manoa Art Auditorium

Raed Jarrar is an Iraqi political analyst and consultant to AFSC's Iraq Program currently based in Washington D.C. He also hosts a blog (www.raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com). Jarrar, who was asked by House Foreign Relations Subcommittee to coordinate a visit of Iraqi Parliamentarians to testify before Congress in June, will be visiting O'ahu, Big Island and Kaua'i as part of a multi-city tour to discuss the initiative. He will also discuss current war funding bills before Congress, the ongoing insurgent conflict, and a vision of what a constructive U.S. involvement would look like.

After the U.S.-led invasion, Jarrar became the country director for CIVIC Worldwide, the only door-to-door casualty survey group in post-war Iraq. He then established Emaar (meaning reconstruction in Arabic), a grassroots organization that provided humanitarian and political aid to Iraqi internally displaced persons (IDPs). Emaar delivered medicine and food as well as helped initiate micro-enterprise projects for IDPs. Additionally, Emaar engaged in political advocacy on behalf of displaced populations.

On O'ahu, Jon Osorio, Director of the UH Center for Hawaiian Studies, will respond to Raed Jarrar drawing parallels between the present war and occupation in Iraq and the U.S. invasion and occupation of Hawai'i which began more than a century ago.

Background:

The U.S. strategy in Iraq is not working. Five years of occupation has led to the largest forced displacement in the Middle East since 1948 and an estimated 1 million Iraqi dead. More than 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed, and the US Government has spent one trillion dollars. The result has been little security and no stability for the Iraqi people.

Inside Iraq, the deterioration of basic services, including the collapse of the health care system, lack of electricity and potable water, and personal and economic insecurity make daily life for Iraqis nearly impossible. Eight million Iraqis are in need of emergency assistance, and more than one in six Iraqis have been forced from their homes. In neighboring countries absorbing refugees, infrastructure is sorely inadequate, and the economic and political strain is increasing. The chaos and violence in Iraq threaten to destabilize the whole region.

A new vision is emerging based on the complete removal of US troops and bases, Iraqi political reconciliation and regional negotiations. It is what the majority in Iraqi's Parliament and a majority of Iraqis want. The peace plan would require U.S. assistance to Syria and Jordan, which are hosting 2 million Iraqi refugees, and dialogue with Iran, an important actor in Iraq.

------------------------------
The event is sponsored by Honolulu Friends Meeting Peace and Social Concerns Committee, American Friends Service Committee-Hawai'i, CHOICES, DMZ-Hawai'i Aloha 'Aina, Friends of Sabeel, Military Families Speak Out-Hawai'i, World Can't Wait-Hawai'i, Revolution Books-Hawai'i, Malu 'Aina Center for Non-Violent Education and Action, Kauai Alliance for Justice and Peace, Hawai'i People's Fund, Buddhist Peace Fellowship-O'ahu, Manoa Mediation & Peace Club, Ohana Koa, Nuclear Free & Independent Pacific, Hawai'i Labor for Peace and Justice.

CONGRESSIONAL STAFF PREVENTS GAO FROM ISSUING FINAL

PRESS RELEASE APRIL 2, 2008

After months of study and consultation with the Commonwealth and interested federal agencies, the Government Accountability Office was prepared to release publicly its final report of the meaning of House Bill No. 3079 on schedule last Friday, March 28. No such report was received by the Commonwealth, as had been promised by GAO on many occasions after circulating its draft report on February 22, 2008.

The Commonwealth has now been informed that GAO did submit its final report to the Congressional requesters on March 28. The report is entitled “Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Pending Legislation Would Apply U.S. Immigration Law to the CNMI with a Transition Period (GAO-08-466).” According to GAO, the Congressional staffers “requested restrictive release,” which means that GAO cannot make the report public for 30 days, unless the Congressional staffers decide to release it at an earlier date.

Governor Fitial expressed his surprise and disappointment with this development:
“Preventing the public release of the GAO report for as long as 30 days means that the Members of the Congress will not be informed of the many serious legal shortcomings of the important bill they are being asked to approve. We pointed out many of these deficiencies in our comments to GAO.”

Governor Fitial has authorized release to the public of the comments submitted by his Special Legal Counsel on March 14, 2008 to GAO regarding its draft legal report. The Commonwealth was informed that comments had also been solicited by GAO from the Departments of Homeland Security, Interior, and Labor. The Commonwealth also recommended that comments be sought from the Department of Justice. As is GAO’s practice, all such comments would be included in the final version of the report.

One of the most controversial interpretations contained in the GAO draft report was its tentative view that the transition period defined under the bill could not be extended beyond December 31, 2014. According to the Commonwealth’s comments, this interpretation of the bill is inconsistent with both the language of the proposed legislation and its legislative history. The Commonwealth believes that the Secretary of Labor is clearly given the authority to extend the transition period for periods of up to five years after considering a long list of relevant factors.

RIP Ka Bel, Representative of the Working Class

KA BEL, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORKING CLASS

GABRIELA National Alliance of Women mourns with the people with the
passing away of Ka Crispin Beltran, representative of Anakpawis Party
List, representative of the working class Filipinos.

Ka Bel was relentless in serving the oppressed people, enduring the
most difficult of trials, the latest of which was his detention for more
than a year for rebellion case orchestrated by the Arroyo regime. His
dedication to the working class was such that he inspired and encouraged
his own children and grandchildren to become part of the people's
struggle.

Ka Bel was an ideal man – passionate in his commitment to serve, devoted
to the cause of the people, dependable in the most trying of times.

Ka Bel's death is a great loss but more importantly his life, tirelessly
dedicated to serving the oppressed peoples, will forever serve as an
inspiration to continue the people's struggle for genuine freedom and
democracy.

Mahal ka namin, Ka Bel, we will sorely miss you.


--------

News article from GMA News:

ka bel passes may 20th.

Labor leader and staunch Arroyo critic passes away

From the parliament of the streets to the corridors of Congress, Crispin B. Beltran never gave up on his aim of promoting the interest of workers.

The 75-year-old Beltran, born in Bacacay, Albay on January 7, 1933, was a long time trade unionist and chairman of the Kilusang Mayo Uno before he became representative of Anakpawis party-list.

He met his end on Tuesday, May 19. He succumbed to severe head injuries after a bad fall from the roof of his house in Bulacan province. Fellow leftist lawmaker Satur Ocampo said that he was once told by Beltran that he'd rather die in a protest-rally on the street, in the company of poor people who want change in the government.

He was a political detainee during Martial Law. He was again detained under the Arroyo administration for more than 15 months from March 2006 to July 2007 through a hospital arrest at the Philippine Heart Center.

Beltran was arrested on February 25, 2006, a day after President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a state of national emergency following a failed uprising against her government.

He was nabbed on charges of rebellion, with authorities enforcing an arrest warrant issued in 1982. That rebellion case, stemming from protest actions over the Bataan Export Processing Zone, was dismissed in 1986.

In June 2007, when he was granted temporary liberty, Beltran returned to the House of Representatives in a fighting mood.

While at the plenary, Beltran, in a fiery privilege speech assailed the Arroyo administration, and defended his right to speak against corruption, unmindful of his recurring heart problem, which often made his blood pressure shoot up.

"I am innocent of the rebellion charge against me. It's neither a sin nor against the law to speak against graft and corruption and the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians", he said. - GMANews.TV

KAISA KA to hold National Congress—Call for Support

March 19, 2008

Dear Friends,

KAISA KA, the women’s organization that first came out in 1998 will be holding its first National Congress this coming May.

It took us that long. But we are proud to declare that now that we are holding this congress, KAISA KA has indeed become a national organization with a sizeable membership and a record of achievements in the women’s movement.

It is high time that we call this Congress. Not only will this consolidate the organization and the gains of the past ten years, but also, and more so, this congress shall unite the organization strongly along more effective means of confronting big threats to Filipino women’s human rights and security.

The congress carries the theme: Sulong Kababaihan! Tumindig, Lumaban, Lumaya para sa sarili at sa bayan! (Women, Advance! Make a Stand! Fight! Be Free for ourselves as women, for the people!)

As this congress will take three days and attendees will have to come from as far away as Zamboanga and Davao, the holding of this activity will cost a minimum of
PhP546, 000.00

We need to raise the amount of PhP 8,875 to for the transportation, food and accommodation, conference kit and travel incidentals for every person coming from the Mindanao area. A delegate coming from Cebu or Negros would need around PhP 7,275.

We are asking for donations to help pay for the food, transportation and rental of the venue. We shall accept cash donations and air line tickets, office supplies or free use any transportation facility.

Please inform us about what you can possibly donate as soon as possible. Please find our contact details below .

Yours truly,


CORAZON D. REQUIZO
Secretary General
KAISA KA
22A Libertad St. Brgy. Highway Hills,
Mandaluyong City 1501
Philippines
Tel. 632-5321746
Fax. 632-7173262

Anti-rape/anti-VFA Activists Urge CA not to Yield to Pressure on Smith

Press Release
May 27, 2008
Reference: Yuen Abana - 09162811934
Lotlot Requizo – 0917 860 6650
Pangging Santos - 09156484638


Anti-rape/anti-VFA Activists Urge CA not to Yield to Pressure on Smith

“Enough of the Philippine government’s licking US masters’ boots! Make history by making an independent stand!”

These came from members of Task Force Subic Rape (TFSR) who went back to the streets this morning and trooped to the Court of Appeals to ask the justices not to yield to pressure to acquit L/Cpl Daniel John Smith. A lower court found Smith guilty of raping a 21 year-old Filipina in 2005.

“We got information that a justice is preparing the decision to reverse Judge Pozon’s verdict. We are not entirely surprised because we saw how the US exerted pressure on the GMA government just to have Smith turned over to them after the guilty verdict. We also saw how compliant the GMA government has been, even to the point of stealing Smith from a Philippine jail in the dead of the night.” Yuen Abana of Partido ng Manggagawa explained.

“But we are still urging the justices”, added Pangging Santos of Sarilaya. “Some may have the courage to convict a member of the strongest armed forces in the world as evidence is strong.”
The rally participants decried the Philippine government’s long history of subservience. In Subic and Clark, Filipinos filed some 3,211 different cases against American soldiers from 1980 to 1987 alone but no case ever prospered in court. More than 48 Filipinos have been murdered from 1947 to 1980 alone but local politicians were first to look for an out-of-court-settlement or dissuade victims from pursuing the cases.

“Japan has its first conviction of a US soldier in 1948 and it has convicted some other US soldiers for the same crime. Korea has convicted 84 US soldiers for rape. But the Philippine government, still very afraid of hurting US-Philippines relations, did its best to keep the latest case of a Filipina raped in Japan hushed and is working to clear Smith of that rape in Subic.” Lotlot Requizo of KAISA KA lamented.

Task Force Subic Rape handed to court personnel a letter of appeal for the CA justices before they left.

CHEVRON: FUELING WARS AND ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS & THE ENVIRONMENT

BY FACES
WEDS, May 28, 7-1030am. Chevron Shareholder's Mtg.
From Richmond to Ecuador, Nigeria, Canada, Philippines, Burma and Iraq

Join FACES, local Richmond groups, Ecuadorian, Nigerian and other international communities and tell Chevron Executives and Shareholders: WE DEMAND PEACE, CLIMATE & ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. Please arrive at the site preferably at 7am in order to be present as shareholder's enter the meeting, and meet at the FACES banner! Additional signs/posters are welcome.

Location: Chevron World Headquarters, 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA. Parking is available at the shopping center across the street, and public transit and carpool options are available. (Pls. read full info below).
FACES event contact: Aileen Suzara, aileensuzara@ gmail.com, 808-896-7299. Please contact if you are interested in joining the FACES contingent or have questions about logistics and arranging carpools!

http://bayareadirectaction.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/may-28-demand-justice-from-chevron/

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* *****
THURS. MAY 29, 7pm. Community Forum: Capping Chevron's Crude. Richmond Alliance for Environmental Justice hosts a public teach-in on the Dirty Crude Richmond Refinery Expansion plans that will go before the Richmond Planning Commission on June 5. Richmond Recreation Complex, 3230 Mac Donald Ave., Richmond.

THURS., JUNE 5, TBA
Chevron's Richmond Refinery Expansion plans will go before the Richmond Planning Commission. Stay tuned for details and ways to support this key event in the Bay Area with community groups!

************ ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ********* ******
SHAREHOLDER'S Meeting Info:
CHEVRON: FUELING WARS AND ABUSING HUMAN RIGHTS & THE ENVIRONMENT
From Richmond to Ecuador, Nigeria, Canada, Philippines, Burma and Iraq

WED, MAY 28, 7am to 10:30am
Mass Theater Action and Demonstration
Chevron World Headquarters
6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon, CA

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/05/20/18500470.php

Special Guests:
Luis Yanza, Ecuadorian Community Organizer and 2008
Goldman Environmental Award Recipient

Hugo Criollo, Ecuadorian Indigenous Leader

Omoyele Sowore, Nigerian human rights, pro-democracy
and anti-corporate leader.

Larry Bowoto, Plaintiff in the lawsuit against Chevron
for their 1998 flying of Nigerian soldiers by
helicopter to attack a nonviolent occupation of
Chevron̢۪s Parabe offshore oil platforms. Two
activists were killed, others injured, and Bowoto
himself was tortured.

These leaders from Ecuador and Nigeria will
demonstrate with Bay Area environmental justice,
solidarity, antiwar, and human rights groups, and will
also join supportive shareholders and organizers in
confronting Chevron executives and shareholders inside
their annual shareholder meeting. While we take
action at the gates of Chevron World Headquarters
(please come on time so we can greet the shareholders
who arrive by 7:30am), some shareholders have filed a
resolution demanding that Chevron report on the
environmental laws in every country where it has
operations, in an attempt to push for accountability.
http://www.chevront oxico.com/ article.php? id=381

MASS THEATER: We need 100 people to join us, put on
HazMat suits and gloves, and help us clean up Chevron's
human and environmental rights abuses and
oil wars. If you are willing to join us, please send a
note to: info@chevrontoxico. org

How to Get There:
Take BART to Walnut Creek BART: We will provide
shuttles from Walnut Creek BART to the demonstration.
Or you can take short ride on County
Connection shuttle 121, or it's a flat 12-mile bike
ride.
Carpools: (if you have space in your car or need a
ride):
SF: Meet @ 6am; Safeway parking lot, Church and
Markets Sts.
East Bay: Meet @ MacArthur BART @ 6:15am
Driving/Carpooling Directions: Fast 25 miles E. of
Oakland.
Take 580 to Hwy 24 E. to I-680 S to exit #34/BOLLINGER
CANYON ROAD. Left over Hwy. 1st left into Shopping
Center. Park, walk back to Chevron across Bollinger.

Sponsored by:
Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Direct Action to
Stop the War, Amazon Watch, Laotian Organizing
Project, Justice for Nigeria Now, Global Exchange,
Burmese American Democratic Alliance-SF, Filipino
American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity
(FACES), Rainforest Action Network, West County Toxics
Coalition, Richmond Greens, Richmond Progressive
Alliance

For more information:
info@chevrontoxico. org
(510) 984-2566
ActAgainstWar. org

4th ANNUAL QUEER WOMEN OF COLOR FILM FESTIVAL

Visit the website at http://www.qwocmap.org/festival.html

FRIDAY, JUNE 13
7:30PM - Opening Night Screening: Kindred Queers

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 **FESTIVAL FOCUS**
2PM - Featured Panel & Retrospective Screening: Pratibha Parmar
5PM & 8PM - Featured Screening: From Queer API Women With Love

SUNDAY, JUNE 15
3PM - Centerpiece Screening: Sexily Subversive
6PM - Closing Night Screening: Delectably Yours

4 Film Screenings: FREE
Featured Panel: $10-$20

Information & Tickets:
www.QWOCMAP.org
festival@qwocmap.org
415-752-0868

VENUE
Brava Theater
2789 24th Street (at York)
San Francisco


******** FRIDAY JUNE 13 ********

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 - 7:30PM
Opening Night Screening: KINDRED QUEERS
Free

From a young girl's magical waltz with the moon, to
a mother-daughter tango of fear and acceptance, to
the quick turns of a dyke couple on a mission to
conceive, these films will shake you in a samba of
spirit and determination.

All films created by QWOCMAP filmmakers. Screening
followed by Q&A with filmmakers.

MAGIC & THE MOON (Pia Infante, 2008)
BOTH/AND (Stephanie Yang, 2006)
JAGADAMBA, MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE (Amber Field, 2008)
RENACIMIENTO DE UNA BRUJA (Zemaya, 2008)
YO SOY/I AM (Nancy Angel, 2007)
SEEING GOLDA (Michelle Alcedo, 2008)
QUEERING MY MOTHER (Lourdes Rivas, 2007)
ONE IN A MILLION (Monifa Porter, 2008)
Running Time: 66 minutes


******** SATURDAY JUNE 14 ********

FESTIVAL FOCUS: Queer Asian Pacific Islander Women


SATURDAY, JUNE 14 - 2PM
Featured Panel & Retrospective Screening: Pratibha Parmar
$10-$20

FEATURED PANEL
Representations of Queer API Women in the Media
Moderated by Helen Zia

RETROSPECTIVE SCREENING
Khush - an exploration of queer South Asians in diaspora
Bhangra Jig - a celebration of culture and desire
Wavelengths - a quest for love and intimacy

~~~~~~~~

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 - 5PM & 8PM
Featured Screening: FROM QUEER API WOMEN WITH LOVE
Free

From a tricky tap dance with immigration agents, to
lyrical interpretations of grief, to the dynamic strut of
a queer secret agent, these powerhouse combinations
are a vibrant groove of heritage, humor and insight.

All films created through QWOCMAP. Screening
followed by Q&A with filmmakers.

LOOK AGAIN (Jennifer Lin, 2008)
LESBIANS TRYING 2 CONCEIVE (Helen Lin, 2008)
PIECES OF YOU (K.V. Cao, 2008)
IF YOU KNEW (Lida Shao, 2008)
VISIBLE VOICE (Paulette Tran, 2008)
JUST ANOTHER DAY (Thu Trinh, 2008)
ALL OF ME (Margaret Rhee, 2008)
LABELS ARE FOREVER (Jinky de Rivera, 2008)
Running Time: 69 minutes


******** SUNDAY JUNE 15 ********

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 - 3PM
Centerpiece Screening: SEXILY SUBVERSIVE
Free

From a 12-year-old who tip-toes around her boyish
desires, to the visual legacies embodied by Black
women, to the fierce shimmy of big bodacious babes,
these films will spin, sway and swing you on the
streets and between the sheets. Explicit content.

Screening followed by Q&A with filmmakers.

S/HE (Gina Chan, 2007)
THE WINK & THE PUCKER (Ami Puri, 2008)
HOKUM (Kortney Ziegler, 2007)
HOT/N/TOT (Stephanie Cooper, 2008)
CAUSE SHE'S GOT IT LIKE THAT (Vanessa Lewis, 2008)
SHE EJACULATES (Nenna Jonier, 2008)
PLAY WITH ME (Leslie Mullins, 2008)
CUT & PASTE (Alexis McCrimmon, 2007)
Running Time: 61 minutes

~~~~~~~~

SUNDAY, JUNE 15 - 6PM
Closing Night Screening: DELECTABLY YOURS
Free

From a yummy chance encounter over Pho noodles,
to a rebellious zapateado against green tortillas,
to tasty platanos from the lands of merengue, salsa
and calypso, these delectable films will move you
while they satisfy your hunger for community and
connection.

All films created through QWOCMAP. Screening
followed by Q&A with filmmakers.

OVER PHO (Rui Bing Zheng, 2008)
FRIED CHICKEN FEET (San Ng, 2008)
TOO MUCH PLAID (Caroline Le, 2008)
YOURS, ANONYMOUS (Puck Lo, 2007)
NO STINKIN' GREEN TORTILLAS (Norma Ramos, 2008)
BANADY & BANARIA (Jay Takeda, 2007)
THE COCK: LESBIAN OWNED & OPERATED (Luna Han, 2008)
MASHED, BOILED & FRIED (Margo Rivera-Weiss, 2008)
Running Time: 78 minutes

Suffering Without Suffrage



Here is a link to the documentary:

http://current.com/items/88967762_suffering_without_suffrage

Please watch and leave comments. Current TV will also air the documentary on its TV stations, which have more than 54 million viewers in the US, UK and Italy.

Si Yu'us Ma'ase,
Victoria